GVLT offers many ways to get involved through volunteering. Volunteers are an essential part of our community’s trail system, helping to make trails safer, more accessible, and more sustainable for everyone to enjoy. Learn more about our volunteer opportunities below and check out our events calendar.
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Photo: Kurt Wehde
Community Events
Each summer, GVLT hosts numerous community-wide events where anyone can join us for a few hours of volunteer work on a local trail. Typically, these two to three-hour-long events are scheduled on a Wednesday evening from June through September. Please check out our events calendar for a full list of upcoming events, and make sure to RSVP.
Trail and Park Clean-Ups
GVLT can provide you with the tools to complete a self-directed trail or park clean-up, whether you’d like to head out on your own or with a group. Picking up trash and dog waste is critical for our watershed’s health and creates a more pleasant trail experience. Please email our Trails team to learn more about completing a clean-up or other individual volunteer opportunities.
Become a Trail Ambassador
Our Trail Ambassadors set out to cultivate a culture of stewardship and kindness on Gallatin Valley’s trails with proper trail etiquette as their guiding principles. Ambassadors commit to at least two 1 to 2-hour-long tabling events per month from April to October. Learn more about becoming a Trail Ambassador—we hope to see you out there!
Group Volunteer Events
GVLT would love to host your company, school, or club for a volunteer day on our trails. Volunteer projects are typically 2-3 hours long and involve trail maintenance tasks such as clearing brush, improving drainage, and blocking social trails. Please complete our Group Volunteer Event Interest Form to inquire about organizing an event and learn about what to expect when volunteering.
Photo: Kurt Wehde
What to Expect When Volunteering
Every trail project varies, depending on the location and objective. We typically plan half-day events, either in the morning or the afternoon. We begin by hiking to the section of trail where our work will take place with our tools and supplies. The type of work we do varies widely depending on the need, but can include cutting back vegetation, restoring eroded trails, improving trailheads, moving and spreading trail surface material, constructing trail features, and removing invasive plants.
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Trail work can be dirty work. Please wear clothing appropriate for the weather and closed-toed shoes. Bring water, snacks, and any medications you might require for the duration of the activity. Bring a backpack to carry your items as you will need your hands available to carry tools. GVLT provides safety equipment such as hard hats, gloves, tools, and experienced crew leaders.
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The whole family is welcome! Children can participate as long as they are able to understand and abide by GVLT’s safety precautions. Adults who bring youth participants are responsible for their supervision at all times. In addition, please follow the guidelines below:
10 and under: 1 adult for every 3 youth participants
11-13 years: At least 1 adult for every 4-5 youth participants
14 years and older: At least 1 adult chaperone per youth group. For community events and individual volunteer opportunities, high schoolers may participate un-chaperoned.
All volunteers under 18 years: Legal guardian must sign a Parent/Guardian Permission Form
For group events, please limit the amount of people to 15.
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GVLT focuses trail work on our signature trails:
At times we coordinate trail projects with partner groups and work on other trails around the Gallatin Valley.
All volunteers are expected to abide by GVLT’s Volunteer Conduct Guidelines.
Please email our Trails team with any questions.